Xi calls natl rejuvenation a 'common goal'

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping (R) meets with Wu Poh-Hsiung, honorary chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party, in Beijing, capital of China, June 13, 2013. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Thursday called on the Chinese mainland and Taiwan to "heal the historical trauma" and set the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as their common goal.

While meeting with visiting Honorary Chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party Wu Poh-Hsiung, Xi offered four proposals on furthering relations across the Taiwan Strait.

First, the two sides should take the overall interests of the Chinese nation into consideration when assessing the overall situation of cross-Strait ties, he said.

"Though the mainland and Taiwan are yet to be reunified, they belong to one China and are inseparable parts of the country," he said.

Safeguarding national territorial integrity and sovereignty is at the core of this goal, Xi said, stressing that the two sides should uphold the one-China framework.

Second, the two sides should clearly recognize development trends throughout history in order to gain a better understanding of the future prospects for cross-Strait ties, he added.

"The peaceful development of cross-Strait ties has become an important part of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Xi said.

He called on the two sides to break free from out-dated concepts that do not suit the current situation, "heal the historical trauma" and put the Chinese nation's rejuvenation as their common goal.

In the third point, Xi noted that the mainland and Taiwan should enhance mutual trust, engage in favorable interactions, seek common ground and shelve differences, and be pragmatic and enterprising.

The key to enhancing mutual trust, Xi explained, lies in fostering a shared perspective and position on upholding the one-China framework.

To engage in favorable interactions, Xi said, both sides should safeguard the hard-won peaceful development of cross-Strait ties and resolve problems between them in a reasonable manner.

"Seeking common ground and shelving differences" requires both sides to rally political wisdom, pool and expand consensus on promoting the development of cross-Strait ties and manage differences appropriately, Xi added.

To prevent setbacks in the development of cross-Strait ties, he also urged both sides not to get stalled by difficulties or disturbances in advancing the relationship.

Finally, he said the two sides should steadily promote the overall development of cross-Strait ties.

In his final point, Xi put priority on maintaining stability in the cross-Strait relationship. "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and activities remain threats to peace across the Strait, and both sides must continue to combat and contain all forms of "Taiwan independence" advocacy or activities. They should never yield in this front, Xi said.

He also called for both sides to facilitate efforts in expanding fields of cooperation and improving the quality of cooperation.

Xi also stressed that more people should benefit from the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. He called for efforts to allow people from both sides to realize that the mainland and Taiwan share the same destiny and to inspire them to strengthen their pride in the Chinese nation as well as their shared goal of its rejuvenation.

The two sides have developed "a correct path" for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations over the past five years, according to Xi.

The CPC Central Committee will maintain consistency in existing policies toward Taiwan by promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties so as to bring greater well-being to compatriots across the Strait and the Chinese nation, he said.

During the meeting, Wu Poh-Hsiung stressed that adhering to the "1992 consensus" and opposing "Taiwan independence" are the positions of both the KMT and CPC, adding that both sides define the cross-Strait relationship within the one-China framework -- not as a country-to-country relationship.

Honoring the long-held principle of the KMT, KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou recently reiterated that he will not promote "Two Chinas," "one China, one Taiwan" or "Taiwan independence," Wu said.

Additionally, Wu said that as the cross-Strait relationship ushers in a new era, both the KMT and the CPC should shoulder the responsibility of rejuvenating the Chinese nation through concerted efforts.

During their meeting, Wu relayed Ma's greetings to Xi, and Xi asked Wu to convey his regards to Ma.

On Thursday, top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng also met with Wu and his visiting delegation, vowing to fully consider the demands and benefits of compatriots from Taiwan amid deepening cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation.

"A concept should be strengthened to regard people from the mainland and Taiwan as one family, and specific goals should be set down to achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with joint efforts from both sides," Yu said.

While meeting with Yu, Wu also stressed that the cross-Strait relations are at a key period and the two parties should deepen mutual political trust and enhance negotiations in order to resolve conflicting views.

Yu hailed Xi's meeting with Wu as having reached many significant agreements that will boost the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations as well as promote mutual trust between the two parties.